Seeds of Choice, Fruits of Faith

Seeds of Choice, Fruits of Faith

How decisions shape our lives and bring joy to The Creator

By Kateb Shunnar

Life has a funny way of tossing choices at you when you least expect it. Some feel like deciding what to eat for lunch, and some hit you like a tidal wave that could shift everything in your life. I’ve come to see that decisions aren’t just little actions they’re seeds. Some seeds grow into fruit that nourishes not only you but everyone around you. Others? Well, they sprout weeds that strangle and trip you up. And The Creator, thankfully, doesn’t leave us to guess which is which. He gave us His word, His will, and His guidance. His word is His will, and His will is His word. That’s the compass. The yardstick. The GPS that never goes haywire even when my own sense of direction does.

I didn’t always understand this. I grew up as the youngest grandchild, quiet, watching life from the sidelines. My mother, Marva, was this powerhouse of discipline, faith, and practicality all rolled into one. She managed real estate, her commitments in church, and somehow still carried this air of authority mixed with grace. She didn’t have many friends, but her spirit was huge, and the lessons she gave about responsibility, about integrity stuck. Then there was my grandmother Celestine, seasoned and wise, with a voice that could calm or command, sometimes both at the same time. She’d take me fishing or crabbing with my grandfather, and in those quiet, still moments by the water, I didn’t know it then, but I was learning patience, observation, and the subtle ways The Creator speaks when you’re listening.

Choices have a way of sneaking up on you, though. Some are obvious, like taking a new job or moving across town. Others are quiet how you talk to someone when you’re exhausted, how you spend a little money when no one’s watching, or whether you forgive or hold a grudge. Every choice leads somewhere, and I’ve learned that decisions made outside The Creator’s word are like knock-off shoes flashy for a moment, but eventually, they’ll leave you limping. But the ones aligned with Him? They might not look flashy, but they last. They carry His purpose, lean on His strength, and bring glory to Him, not to me.

There’s this story I hold close, a piece of folklore about a weaver. He lived in a small riverside village, known for weaving the finest cloth. One day, two strangers came with requests. One asked for a cloth of gold bright, bold, flashy, sure to impress. The other asked for a plain cloth, sturdy, meant to wrap children, protect travelers, and last for generations. The weaver wrestled with the decision. Gold promised fame, fast money, admiration. The plain cloth promised usefulness, endurance, and quiet service. After many sleepless nights, he chose the humble cloth. Years later, the golden fabric was gone, faded and forgotten, but the humble cloth? It was still warming babies, still wrapping travelers, still serving generations. The villagers said, “The weaver chose what made The Creator smile and that is why his work never faded.” That story sits with me because it reminds me that humble, faithful choices outlast the flashy, self-serving ones every time.

Sometimes I have to laugh at myself. I need reminders like this to keep me from drifting. One of mine is an acronym: S.M.I.L.E. Serve His purpose. Move with humility. Invest in others’ good. Live by His word. Elevate His glory. If a decision checks off those boxes, I know The Creator is smiling too. And honestly, if it only makes me happy but would make Him frown, I’ve clearly missed the point. Life has taught me that without faith, pleasing Him is impossible. Decisions that rely solely on cleverness might shine, but they don’t carry weight. Decisions rooted in faith and alignment with Him bear fruit ...fruit that lasts far beyond the moment.

Even small decisions matter. I remember meals with my grandmother. She could take a simple pot of beans and rice and turn it into something that made the whole family feel nourished not just in body, but in spirit. That taught me a bigger lesson: it’s not just the big flashy choices that The Creator blesses. It’s the ordinary, the small acts seasoned with care, humility, and a heart turned toward Him. Whether I’m working, laughing with friends, resting at home, or just choosing how to spend a quiet evening, those little moments are all opportunities to glorify The Creator.

And if I had to sum it up in a few rhyming lines, because sometimes my soul speaks better that way:

Some choices dazzle, some choices deceive,

Some promise joy, but just make you grieve.

Yet when I choose kindness, justice, and grace,

I walk in the warmth of The Creator’s embrace.

When pride calls loud with its glitter and show,

It fades like smoke when the strong winds blow.

But the path of mercy, steady and true,

Leads me to blessings both old and new.

So I’ll stop, I’ll pray, I’ll humbly ask,

Before I dive headfirst into a task.

And if what I choose brings The Creator delight,

I’ll walk with His favor, my steps made right.

There is not a leaf that falls but yet he knows it.

The bottom line is this: don’t rush through your choices. Don’t skim past them like they’re lines on a page or notifications on your phone. Let them linger. Ask yourself, Will this make The Creator smile? Because decisions that line up with His heart humble, patient, thoughtful, kind are the ones that endure. The rest, no matter how glittery, fade. Life is too precious, too sacred, to waste on choices that crumble under their own weight. Plant the seeds that matter. Lean on Him. Choose in alignment with His word, His will, His purpose. Watch as those seeds grow into fruit that nourishes not just you, but everyone you touch, and brings joy to The Creator in ways you may never fully see.